DALLAS — To enjoy family fun outdoors even more, one Dallas business suggests starting indoors this summer.
This first week of July marks "water safety week" at Emler Swim School locations in North Texas — with an increased emphasis on training to help young children if they inadvertently fall into a pool.
Texas continues to lead the nation in child drownings and pools and spas, according to the USA Swim Foundation.
Melissa Callahan with Emler Swim School says the classes replicate real world scenarios, including having young swimmers wear T-shirts when they jump into the pool.
“A lot of times children are not ready to go swimming — they’re fully clothed — so we want them to know what that feels like," Callahan said.
In addition to swim lessons, there are steps parents can take too to increase safety and reduce anxiety. Those include learning CPR and always assigning a water guardian to watch children in the water, especially at residential pools and know the signs of struggle associated with potential drownings.
A water guardian isn't designed to rescue, experts say, but rather prevent the emergency by watching children in the water free of any cell phone use or distractions.